Newark Mayor Cory Booker to Deliver Keynote Address at AFC's School Choice Summit

Booker joins New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as featured speaker at next month's National Policy Summit

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker will extol the virtues of school choice and education reform during a keynote address at the American Federation for Children's third annual National Policy Summit, to be held on May 3-4, 2012 in neighboring Jersey City, New Jersey.

Booker, who has been a leading voice for providing more and better educational options for children in low-income New Jersey families, is one of the foremost champions of school choice across the country. The Democratic mayor has also been a strong advocate for New Jersey's Opportunity Scholarship Act, a proposed bill that would create a scholarship tax credit program for children in the state's lowest-performing school districts.

"Cory Booker is one of the most committed advocates in the ongoing fight to give our country's children hope through better educational opportunities," said Kevin P. Chavous, senior adviser to the American Federation for Children. "We're grateful to have such an inspiring and important leader join us at our Summit, especially someone like Mayor Booker, who represents a new generation of school choice champions nationwide."

Prior to becoming the 36th mayor of Newark in 2006, Booker embraced education reform among a slew of initiatives for low-income families as a member of the Newark Municipal Council. Following a close defeat in Newark's 2002 mayoral race, he was elected in 2006 with 72 percent of the vote. He won a resounding bid for re-election in 2010 largely based on his work in the education reform realm.

Booker joins New Jersey Governor Chris Christie among those delivering a keynote address. Also slated to speak is renowned author and commentator Juan Williams, and additional speaker and panel announcements are expected in the coming days.

The 2012 National Policy Summit, School Choice Now: Breakthrough Victories for Children, will focus on the landmark expansion of educational options for children in 2011-12, and the need to accelerate these reforms for the duration of this year and beyond. It will also include a series of panel discussions with state legislators, business and education leaders, and the nation's leading researchers on school choice programs.

For more information or register to attend the Summit, please visit www.AFCPolicySummit.com.

SOURCE American Federation for Children